DURHAM, N.C. — The North Carolina Central University softball team is slated to play four games at the Campbell University Invitational on Saturday-Sunday, Feb. 20-21, including opening up against Mount St. Mary's University, playing two games against nationally-ranked University of Kentucky and concluding play against the host Camels.
NOTE: Fans are encouraged to check
NCCUEaglePride.com for schedule updates in case the schedule gets altered due to inclement weather or wet field conditions.
GAME INFO:
DATE: Sat., Feb. 20 vs. Mt. Saint Mary's (11:30 AM)
DATE: Sat., Feb. 20 vs. No. 12 Kentucky (2:00 PM)
DATE: Sun., Feb. 21 vs. No. 12 Kentucky (10 AM)
DATE: Sun., Feb. 21 vs. Campbell (5:30 PM)
LOCATION: Amanda Littlejohn Stadium, Buies Creek, N.C.
TICKETS: Not Open to the General Public
FOLLOW: LIVE STATS;
@NCCUAthletics
NC CENTRAL DUGOUT:
The Eagles were only able to play one of their four scheduled games at the Upstate Classic last weekend. NCCU (0-1 Overall) was shutout by the host Spartans, 3-0.
Senior pitcher
Kiara Hurley, who is the MEAC Preseason Pitcher of the Year, tossed a complete game for the Eagles.
Senior second baseman
Diamond Porter had NCCU's lone extra-base hit with a double to go along with a walk. Senior
Joirea Dumas also had a hit and a walk as Porter and Dumas pace the maroon and gray with .667 on-base percentages.
Senior designated player
Olivia Daniel and senior outfielder
Tamiera Sanchez join Hurley and Dumas as Preseason All-MEAC selections.
MOUNT ST. MARY'S DUGOUT:
The Mountaineers will begin their 2021 season at the Campbell Invitational. Mount St. Mary's is picked fourth out of nine teams in the Northeast Conference after going 2-17 in the shortened 2020 season and 26-28 in its last full season in 2019.
Senior infielder Kaylee Stoner was a First Team All-NEC selection in 2019, who batted .350 that season with 14 stolen bases and 37 run scored. She followed that up by batting .298 last season.
Fellow seniors Shelbee Holcumb and Amanda Berkley both garnered Second Team All-NEC laurels in 2019. Holcumb had a team-best .370 batting average with 21 RBI while Berkley picked up 15 wins that season with a 3.05 ERA and 75 strikeouts.
The Mountaineers have eight newcomers.
#12 KENTUCKY DUGOUT:
The Wildcats are nationally-ranked in every major top-25 poll represented on NCAA.com, including moving up to No. 12 in both the USA Today/NFCA Coaches and ESPN.com/USA Softball polls after the first week of the season. Kentucky (3-0) opened up the season with a three-game sweep of Samford University in which they scored 31 runs and will play a doubleheader at UNC Greensboro on Friday before starting play in the Camel Invite on the weekend.
Rookie shortstop Erin Coffel was named D1Softball National Freshman of the Week on Tuesday after going .667 with five RBI in her first three collegiate games. She picked up a pair of hits in all three contests, including a home run and a double.
Kentucky is picked fifth in a crowded Southeastern Conference coaches preseason poll that sees most of its programs nationally ranked, but the Wildcats have reached the NCAA Regional 11 straight years, including the Super Regional each of the past three full seasons.
Senior first baseman Mallory Peyton, who led the Wildcats with 11 home runs in 24 games last season, already has two homers this season. Junior left fielder Renee Abernathy tops UK with six RBI.
Senior Autumn Humes, who entered the season with a career 3.23 ERA and 29 wins over her first three seasons, is already 2-0 with a 0.64 ERA and 10 strikeouts this season.
CAMPBELL DUGOUT:
The Camels will be starting their season at their home event. Campbell is picked to finish tied for fourth out of eight teams in the Big South Conference Preseason Poll after going 10-15 in 2020 and 26-28 in 2019.
A veteran Campbell lineup is jumpstarted by senior leadoff hitter and outfielder Destini England, who has batted over .300 in every one of her collegiate seasons so far. She is a two-time Conference USA award winner at University of Alabama Birmingham before transferring to Campbell last season.
Sophomore Claudia Ware, who batted .338 last season, also patrols the outfield for the Camels. Junior first baseman Kayla Fredendall is a big power batt for Campbell, has led the team in home runs each of the last two seasons and earned Big South First Team All-Conference honors in 2019.
The Camels bring back 10 starters and most of their pitching core returns to the circle. Freshman Georgeanna Barefoot (5-6, 2.33 ERA, 83 K, 75.0 IP), freshman Kayla Howald (1-4, 3.88 ERA, 45 K, 39.2 IP) and senior Megan Richards (3-4, 6.59 ERA, 29 K, 34.0 IP) hurled most of Campbell's innings last season.
